FLING PHYSICAL THEATRE
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HISTORY

FLING PHYSICAL THEATRE was founded in 2001 by Dancer/Choreographer Lee Pemberton, with the support of Jennifer Hunt, then Regional Arts Development Officer at South East Arts. Over a number of its early projects, Lee and FLING developed a strong choreographic voice reflecting the regional location and unique community of the Bega Valley. This voice connected with the young people of the region, offering them opportunities to learn physical and performance skills, to explore creative ideas, and to develop their sense of identity, self-worth and resilience. FLING brought visiting professional artists to the region, as collaborators on projects and with creative residency programs, while also offering employment to local composers, designers, musicians and artists, supporting and developing the local cultural ecology. Over time, a strong community of supporters grew around the organisation, and FLING became an important part of the cultural landscape of the Bega Valley. 

FLING's reputation began to expand beyond the region as FLING works toured, including major tours of Dictionary of Habits to Eden, Moruya and Parramatta Riverside (2005), Who will come to the Rescue? to Merrigong Theatre Company and Parramatta Riverside (2007) and Sol's Way, also to Merrigong and Parramatta (2009).
In 2012, FLING was proud to represent Australia at the Singapore Youth Festival.

In 2008, FLING presented Awake, an ambitious work with a cast of 88 performers drawn from the local community, ranging in age from 8 to 80 years. The scale of FLING works was impressive for the size of the organisation and the community, with works such as The Voyage (2010), being described as operatic in vision. This large scale vision continued with The Idea of South (2012), Socialsize Me (2013), and X the Floor (2014). The Idea of South was shortlisted for an Australian Dance Award for outstanding achievement in Youth or Community Dance.

Lee Pemberton stepped down from the role of Artistic Director at the end of 2015, having developed a team of young artists being mentored into leadership roles, ready to take the organisation into its next phase.

Gabrielle Rose and Rob McCredie were appointed Co Artistic Directors from 2016, (having joined the organisation in 2013 and 2014 respectively). New works for the opening of the Four Winds Festival and major collaborative work Home in early 2016, were followed by the creation and regional tour of We will come to the Rescue to Yass, Bathurst and Artlands Dubbo, the National Regional Arts Conference. 

Since 2016, FLING has continued to consolidate its programs within our community and reach out to new communities through new collaborations and expanded programs, including an Inclusive Dance Program, and new projects continuing to develop connections to the Yuin Nation. FLING's core Youth Company Programs have continued to produce high quality original work, including Body and Environment (2018) which won an Australian Dance Award, and My Black Dog (2019), winner of the Way Ahead Mental Health Matters Award for Youth, and ambitious works created with the YFLING and FLUX Creators Companies- like I Believe in Monsters (2017) and Monkey See, Monkey Do (2018). In 2020 The FLING Company performed in Sydney Festival, in ENCOUNTER, a major collaboration with FORM Dance Projects and Sydney Youth Orchestras.
Click here for more info about FLING's Current and Past Projects.
Projects

FOUnding  Director

Lee Pemberton 
An influential dance artist and choreographer, Lee Pemberton is the founding director of FLING Physical Theatre. A graduate of the Melbourne University's V.C.A. School of Dance, her career in dance and choreographic practice spans nearly four decades and developed through her interest in education and human development.

Lee's work at FLING celebrated young people living in the Bega Valley. 
She created and produced more than twenty full-length works that focused on issues concerning young people including environmental awareness, self-worth and self-development, risk-taking behaviour, and family and social issues. She developed a training pedagogy and range of regional dance programs including visiting artist residencies, performance tours, schools programs and secondment opportunities. Under her vision, FLING became NSW's first professionally supported Youth Dance Company.

Following her departure from FLING, Lee was a recipient of 2016 Create N.S.W. Regional Arts Fellowship which ignited her current practice involving site-specific immersive dance work where past and future meet. In a series of events called Incomplete Ever Unfolding, she presents performances in small settings for intimate audience experience. She is also developing a local network for creative performers called Bedrock Creators and has produced a duet called Another Extinction with Delia Silvan, created during the tragic fires of 2020.


For more info visit Lee's website, or Bedrock Creators.
Picture
Lee Pemberton - Another Extinction. Image Michael Adams

  PAST  COLLABORATING  ARTISTS 

FLING Physical Theatre has a proud history of employing exceptional artists from the Bega Valley and around Australia to collaborate with our creative team, regional community and young performers. Below are a few key collaborators on major past projects.
​
Kate Denborough
Emma Saunders
Gerry Corcoran
​​Tim Newth 
Holly Durant
Nick Power
David Hewitt

Dan Scollay
Heath Cullen
Joshua Thompson
Matt Cornell 

Adelina Larsson 
Jane Davis 

Tully Ward
Helen Linkenbaugh
Charles Koroneho
Fiona Malone 
Adam Wheeler
Don Asker 
Jane Mortiss
Jodie Farrugia
Anton
Steph Hutchinson

Gareth Hart
Colleen Meessmann

John Hunt​
Ben Moroney
Tess de Quincey
Victoria Hunt
B Boy Swipa 
Kirk Page
Rowan Marchingo
Ingrid Kleinig
Alexandra Harrison 

 FLING  ALUMNI

FLING Physical Theatre has built a strong reputation for producing highly skilled performers. Many alumni have gone on to tertiary training and professional careers in the performing arts.

FLING regularly employs alumni as guest teachers and collaborators on projects. We also offer residencies and commissions to alumni who have recently graduated from tertiary courses to support the continued development of their practice as emerging artists. 

The following list is just a few of the many young people who have engaged with FLING over its history, who have gone on to further training in the arts.
Julie Baker - Adelaide Centre Performing Arts
Lauren Gemmell - Bathurst University
Patrick Meessmann - VCA, Opera Aus
Leif Helland  - VCA, Chunky Move
Sebastian Rideaux - NICA, Solitare Circus
Stephanie Tatzenko - Wesley University
Ruby Dwyer - QUT
Braydon Zirkler - Swinburne University
Naomi Hayman - Wesley University
Carly Williams - NICA
Jenna Carragher - Deakin University
Tayo Wilson - NICA
Abbey Jessop - Wesley
 University
Jared Mizon - Fresh Funk

Ryl Harris - VCA
Solomon Thomas - Wollongong University
Heidi Atkins - Wollongong University
Karina Gaal - Deakin University

Madison Phillips - Deakin University
Matthew Hyde - VCA
Kyall Shanks 
- VCA
Olivia McPherson - VCA
Siobhan McKenna - VCA
Jacqueline Trapp - VCA
Cassia Jamieson - NICA
​Tully Doole - Deakin University
Jazmyn Carter - VCA
Isabelle Champagne Chittick - NICA
​Julien Comer Kleine - VCA
​Rory Warne - SDC PPY, VCA
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  • HOME
    • Our Team
    • History
    • Venue Hire
    • Work With Us
    • Contact
  • WHAT'S ON
  • PROJECTS
    • AFTER
    • The Tent
    • My Black Dog Film
    • Body and Environment Film
    • Take the Pressure Down
    • Past Projects
  • Programs
    • Youth Companies
    • Community Dance Classes
    • Summer Dance Sessions
    • Regional Youth Choreographic Explosion
    • Move Me Inclusive Dance
    • Education Services
    • Support For Artists
  • Support Us
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Supporters